Menendez Brothers

[maudefindlay]

There is a law you cannot inherit money from people you murdered. The slayer law.

[Deleted]

Oct 27, 2024 13:35:10 GMT -5 marie said:

What even happens to people like them if they get out? They have no social security I would assume and only have a few more years of working eligibility. I am sure they would love to be released, but what would be the outcome? I guess they are so “famous” that they could maybe make money somehow

I feel like they would probably get book deals, and I imagine they got some money from the Netflix documentary?

[tacokick]

Oct 27, 2024 16:19:56 GMT -5 @villainv said:

Oct 27, 2024 13:35:10 GMT -5 marie said:

What even happens to people like them if they get out? They have no social security I would assume and only have a few more years of working eligibility. I am sure they would love to be released, but what would be the outcome? I guess they are so “famous” that they could maybe make money somehow

I feel like they would probably get book deals, and I imagine they got some money from the Netflix documentary?

It’s been reported they didn’t get money from Netflix. I know they spent like 11 million by the time the trial ended and the estate owed taxes after the house was sold at a loss.

I do think they could get book deals but from what I’ve read they don’t have much of a net worth now.

[Deleted]

Oct 27, 2024 16:28:24 GMT -5 tacokick said:

Oct 27, 2024 16:19:56 GMT -5 @villainv said:

I feel like they would probably get book deals, and I imagine they got some money from the Netflix documentary?

It’s been reported they didn’t get money from Netflix. I know they spent like 11 million by the time the trial ended and the estate owed taxes after the house was sold at a loss.

I do think they could get book deals but from what I’ve read they don’t have much of a net worth now.

Wow, even for the documentary they participated in? I know they weren’t consulted at all on the dramatic series.

[tacokick]

Oct 27, 2024 16:37:45 GMT -5 @villainv said:

Oct 27, 2024 16:28:24 GMT -5 tacokick said:

It’s been reported they didn’t get money from Netflix. I know they spent like 11 million by the time the trial ended and the estate owed taxes after the house was sold at a loss.

I do think they could get book deals but from what I’ve read they don’t have much of a net worth now.

Wow, even for the documentary they participated in? I know they weren’t consulted at all on the dramatic series.

That’s what I’ve read. Generally people in documentaries don’t get paid so that wouldn’t be unusual.

[erbear]

Oct 27, 2024 16:16:16 GMT -5 maudefindlay said:

There is a law you cannot inherit money from people you murdered. The slayer law.

My husband says this every time we hear Anti-Hero 😂

[livinitup]

We can thank Texas for giving us a glimpse into what a system of incarceration looks like after decades of sentencing its convicted citizens to “life without parole”.

Spoiler : It mostly looks like a nursing home for old men with various medical needs in mental and physical decline.

It’s also expensive and underfunded.

[jennistarr1]

Oct 25, 2024 22:58:23 GMT -5 livinitup said:

jennistarr1 I agree, OMG. What did you say?

Well I said it's not that my generation overlooked or didn't care about the abuse. It certainly played a role in the progression of the 2 trials...and the consideration for "life" instead of the death penalty. I do think money was part of why they chose to murder their parents vs just leaving or pursuing legal actions against their parents

I also pointed out that most of what "you" (younger generation coworker) knows is from documentaries...and not saying I had inside knowledge from living through the news of it, but we all just know what we know from the slant of what is presented to us.

[ksun]

16yo DD is really into it.

Have they received therapy to deal with the abuse? Because if they're released and leaving prison after probably enduring more trauma AND not having worked with the previous trauma, I feel that's a disservice and a setup for failure.

I'm absolutely for re-sentencing, though.

[lab7979]

I think if they were tried today they probably wouldn't have received a life sentence because of the abuse. The thing I really have an issue with in this case is that they were both old enough to just move out, get a job, support themselves and never go back. They were old enough to report the abuse to the police themselves. I know things aren't quite that clean cut but they didn't have to resort to murder.

I was cleaning out some drawers yesterday and found my old Milli Vanilli, MC Hammer and Cyndi Lauper cassette tapes. I need to find a working tape player.

[marvine]

I have mixed feelings about the Menendez brothers. I watched the newest series (the fictional one) and I finally had to just accept that two things can be true about them - that they were horribly abused and not good/nice people who liked living the big money life. They were used to a certain lifestyle, so of course they'd go out and buy rolexes and fancy cars because that was their world.

[basilosaurus]

Oct 27, 2024 16:16:16 GMT -5 maudefindlay said:

There is a law you cannot inherit money from people you murdered. The slayer law.

But would that money go to another relative who might use it to support them? That is, if there was anything left.

[maudefindlay]

Oct 29, 2024 14:00:54 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

Oct 27, 2024 16:16:16 GMT -5 maudefindlay said:

There is a law you cannot inherit money from people you murdered. The slayer law.

But would that money go to another relative who might use it to support them? That is, if there was anything left.

Everything I've read on them indicates there was minimal money left after settling debts, mortgages, and the large legal fees. But in general with that law yes, the money goes on to other beneficiaries and if those people cannot accept the money it may end up for the courts to decide who gets it. They actually consider the slayer(s) as if they predeceased their victim(s).

They do have family standing behind them and if they are released they will have to have housing approved ahead of time. Maybe their wives will take them in and help support them.

[jlt19]

Oct 27, 2024 16:37:45 GMT -5 @villainv said:

Oct 27, 2024 16:28:24 GMT -5 tacokick said:

It’s been reported they didn’t get money from Netflix. I know they spent like 11 million by the time the trial ended and the estate owed taxes after the house was sold at a loss.

I do think they could get book deals but from what I’ve read they don’t have much of a net worth now.

Wow, even for the documentary they participated in? I know they weren’t consulted at all on the dramatic series.

I thought you also couldn’t profit off the “telling” of your story when convicted either. That could be a case by case basis though.

While I don’t want anyone to stay in prison for life, I just can’t imagine having to learn how to live on the outside again after that many years of being institutionalized. Sort of like the old man in Shawshank. Obviously theirs is a different situation than most that are in prison for most of their lives.

[tacokick]

Oct 29, 2024 18:02:49 GMT -5 jlt19 said:

Oct 27, 2024 16:37:45 GMT -5 @villainv said:

Wow, even for the documentary they participated in? I know they weren’t consulted at all on the dramatic series.

I thought you also couldn’t profit off the “telling” of your story when convicted either. That could be a case by case basis though.

While I don’t want anyone to stay in prison for life, I just can’t imagine having to learn how to live on the outside again after that many years of being institutionalized. Sort of like the old man in Shawshank. Obviously theirs is a different situation than most that are in prison for most of their lives.

The laws about “profiting” from your crime vary by state. CA doesn’t doesn’t have one. That’s why OJ was able to make appearances and write a book.

[basilosaurus]

Oct 29, 2024 14:29:21 GMT -5 maudefindlay said:

Oct 29, 2024 14:00:54 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

But would that money go to another relative who might use it to support them? That is, if there was anything left.

Everything I've read on them indicates there was minimal money left after settling debts, mortgages, and the large legal fees. But in general with that law yes, the money goes on to other beneficiaries and if those people cannot accept the money it may end up for the courts to decide who gets it. They actually consider the slayer(s) as if they predeceased their victim(s).

They do have family standing behind them and if they are released they will have to have housing approved ahead of time. Maybe their wives will take them in and help support them.

I forgot they're both married.

Considering them predeceased to the victim makes a lot of sense. Thanks

[wise_rita]

Saying NOBODY should be imprisoned for life is straight up crazy cakes.

This adds nothing to the discussion and is highly agitating, but I've got to say it.

[TR]

Oct 30, 2024 10:57:35 GMT -5 wise_rita said:

Saying NOBODY should be imprisoned for life is straight up crazy cakes.

This adds nothing to the discussion and is highly agitating, but I've got to say it.

I don’t think anyone said that. Someone said that a life sentence without the possibility for parole should never be an option. And then, in that case, you have the parole board who could deny parole and so that person COULD end up incarcerated for life, but you’re not flat out denying even the chance for parole.

[circa1978]

I think the justice system is flawed and the chance of parole is a check and balance against that. It doesn't mean they won't stay imprisoned.

BTW, I think Justice by Internet and Netflix Movie is also deeply flawed.

[jlt19]

Oct 29, 2024 18:46:15 GMT -5 tacokick said:

Oct 29, 2024 18:02:49 GMT -5 jlt19 said:

I thought you also couldn’t profit off the “telling” of your story when convicted either. That could be a case by case basis though.

While I don’t want anyone to stay in prison for life, I just can’t imagine having to learn how to live on the outside again after that many years of being institutionalized. Sort of like the old man in Shawshank. Obviously theirs is a different situation than most that are in prison for most of their lives.

The laws about “profiting” from your crime vary by state. CA doesn’t doesn’t have one. That’s why OJ was able to make appearances and write a book.

Right, but he was found not guilty…

[tacokick]

Oct 30, 2024 19:42:02 GMT -5 jlt19 said:

Oct 29, 2024 18:46:15 GMT -5 tacokick said:

The laws about “profiting” from your crime vary by state. CA doesn’t doesn’t have one. That’s why OJ was able to make appearances and write a book.

Right, but he was found not guilty…

He was found liable for the murders in civil court

[fernweh]

Oct 30, 2024 19:50:49 GMT -5 tacokick said:

Oct 30, 2024 19:42:02 GMT -5 jlt19 said:

Right, but he was found not guilty…

He was found liable for the murders in civil court

Didn’t he have to pay the profits from his book to the family of Ron Goldman though?

[mrsslocombe]

Oct 31, 2024 10:55:11 GMT -5 fernweh said:

Oct 30, 2024 19:50:49 GMT -5 tacokick said:

He was found liable for the murders in civil court

Didn’t he have to pay the profits from his book to the family of Ron Goldman though?

Yes, because the Goldman family won a civil lawsuit against him, so he owed them millions of dollars to pay off that judgment. It would have been the same if they had a judgment against him for property damage or something-they got to the money because it was owed to them, not because it was profit from the crime.

Participants don't usually get paid for documentaries, but there are work arounds to get people money. But most production companies wouldn't pay a person who has been convicted, even if it is legal, because it looks bad. 

[cville]

Oct 30, 2024 19:50:49 GMT -5 tacokick said:

Oct 30, 2024 19:42:02 GMT -5 jlt19 said:

Right, but he was found not guilty…

He was found liable for the murders in civil court

Slayer laws typically do not apply in the event of civil liability, only criminal conviction.

[tacokick]

Oct 31, 2024 10:55:11 GMT -5 fernweh said:

Oct 30, 2024 19:50:49 GMT -5 tacokick said:

He was found liable for the murders in civil court

Didn’t he have to pay the profits from his book to the family of Ron Goldman though?

People can use civil cases to collect damages as sort of a work around to get money from the accused like Ron Goldman’s family did but technically, any assets he had would have gone to pay them, not just “profits” from the murder.


I think there is some conflation going on here in the thread in general—Slayer laws are about inheritance (you can’t inherit from people you murdered) and laws about profiting from your crime (“Son of Sam”) which would cover being paid for your story, books, movies etc. They vary state to state if they exist and what they cover. They are kind of controversial and CA had one but it was struck down like 20 yrs ago so a criminal could sell their story no matter what court they were found liable in.

Son of Sam clauses can also be written into a judgment on a case.